Vacuum-producing apparatus.



J. P. MENNINGEN, DEGD.

K. MBNNINGEN, ADMINISTBATRIX. VACUUM monucme APPARATUS.

Patented J an. 2, 1912,

APPLICATION FILED DBO. 31, 1910.

COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH c0..wAsmNcrr0N. D c.

UNTTED STATES PATENT orr cn.

JOSEPH F. MENNINGEN, OF WEST ALLIS, WISCONSIN; KATHERINE MENNINGENADMINISTRATRIX F SAID JOSEPH 1!. MENNING'EN, DECEASED.

VACUUM-PRODUCING APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 2,1912.

' waukee and State of Wisconsin, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Vacuum-Producing Apparatus, of which the following is afull, clear, and exact specification.

My present invention relates to vacuum producing apparatus and moreparticularly to vacuum producing apparatus for cleaning carpets, covers,furniture, and the like.

Most of the apparatus for cleaning or abstracting dust and dirt fromcarpets and furniture now on the market is bulky, heavy, andexpensive.Such apparatus has to be operated by a man if it is manually operated,or has to be provided with an electric, hydraulic, or other motor whichis expensive both in first cost and in maintenance.

It is the object of my invention to provide vacuum producing apparatuswhich is simple, novel, and inexpensive.

More particularly the object of my invention is to provide a simple,novel, and inexpensive vacuum cleaner which is light but durable inconstruction, and which can be operated easily by anyone.

The various novel features of my invention will be described in thefollowing specification and particularly set forth in the appendedclaims.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which-Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of a vacuum cleaner which isincluded in my invention with the plunger in one extreme position andthe other parts in their corresponding positions; Fig. 2 is a verticalsectional view of the same with the plunger in an intermediate'position;Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken in the plane of the line 3-3of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken in the plane. ofthe line 4-4 of Fig. 1; and, Fig. 5 is a fragmentary elevation of thelower part of the vacuum cleaner showing thebroad side of the nozzle.

. While I am describing my invention in connection with my novel vacuumcleaner I do not intend to limit myself to vacuum cleaners, for theinvention includes vacuum producing apparatus for various purposes.

" All of the metal parts of the vacuum cleaner are preferably made ofaluminum. The main body portion of the vacuum cleaner includes an outerhousing or shell 11, the bottom of which fits and sets into a casting 12having an annular lug 13 and openings 14. Secured to the annular lug 13is a conical screen 15 forpreventing the passage of relatively largebodies which are drawn into the cleaner. The screen 15 is located withina bowl-shaped member 16 which is supported by the outer shell 11 bypivotally mounted screws 17 engaging slotted brackets 18 fastened to theshell 11 by plugs 19. The casting 12 is pressed and retained between theshell 11 and bowl-shaped member 16 without its being otherwise fastenedin any manner to said parts. This bowlshaped member 16 is provided witha nozzle 20 having a long, narrow opening 21 extending practically thefull width of the nozzle. The relative width of the nozzle is shownclearly in Fig. 5. The nozzles may be of any size or shape, dependingupon the nature of the work to be done. Rollers 22, providing for themovement of the vacuum cleaner over the article to be cleaned, aresupported by a rod 23 passing through the nozzle 20.

Movably mounted within the outer shell 11 is a light, hollow, open-endedcylinder 24 which is adapted to move axially of said shell. In its lowerposition, as shown in Fig.

2, the cylinder 24 engages a rubber or leather washer 25 which isinterposed bet-ween a collar 26 and the casting 12 and secured to thelatter by screws 27. In its upper position, as shown in Fig. 1, thecylinder 24 engages a rubber or leather washer 28 which is securedbetween a casting29 and the shell 11. This casting 29 fits over the topof the shell 11 and is retained in position by pivotally mounted screws30 engaging slot-ted brackets 31 secured to said shell. The casting 29is provided with a valve opening 32, an air and dust outlet 33, and acentrally located bore 34. Another casting 35 secured to thecasting 29by bolts or screws 36 is provided with a valve opening 37, air and dustoutlet 38, and a bore 39. Slidably mounted on a slidable valve stem 40,located within the castings 29, 35, and shell 11, and guided by a member41, are two valves 42 and 43. These valves are provided with washers 44and backed up by springs 45 and 46 respectively, which are preventedfrom shifting on the valve stem 40 by collars 47 The lower end of thevalve stem 40 is provided with two collars 48 and 49 between which isretained an annular flange 50 secured to the hollow cylinder 24 byscrews 51. No matter how much the cylinder '24 may turn the flange 50will be retained between collars 48 and 49. The hollow cylinder in itsupward and downward axial movement is guided by the plugs 19 and by thescrews 51 engaging the inside surface of the outer shell 11.

For creating a vacuum a plunger 52 having a hollow plunger rod 53 isprovided. The plunger has a rubber or leather washer 54 which is held inplace by a spring 55 and held against the inside surface of thecylinder'24 by springs 56. The hollow plunger rod 53 communicates withthe space within the cylinder 24 between the casting 12 and plunger 52,and has openings 56 for permitting the flow of air and dust therethroughand out through the valve opening 37 into a removable bag 57 fastenedover the air and dust outlet portions of the castings 29 and 35. Thisbag may be made of any material,

preferably cloth, which permits the passage of air but retains dust ofdust laden air passing through said bag. Surrounding the hollow plungerrod and within a grooved portion of the casting 35 is a packing ring 58held in position by a cap 59.

The vacuum cleaner is provided with two handles, one 60 secured to thecasting 35 for rolling and steadying the cleaner and another 61 securedto the plunger rod 53 for actuating the plunger 52.

The construction of the vacuum cleaner having been described, itsoperation will now be considered.

Assuming that the plunger is in its lowest position engaging the lowerend of the hollow cylinder 24, the cylinder will be held down againstthe washer 25. When the plunger 52 is first raised by means of theplunger rod 53 and handle 61, the cylinder will also'raise a definiteamount due to the friction between the plunger 52 and the inside surfaceof the cylinder 24 caused by the snug fit between said plunger andcylinder. This cylinder will continue to rise until its upper endengages the washer 28'of casting 29. Due to the connection between theflange 50 and the valve stem collars 48 and 49, the valve stem 40 willbe raised, opening the valve 42. As the plunger 52 is drawn up stillfarther a vacuum is created within the lower part of the movablecylinder 24 and air carrying dust and dirt from carpets and the likewill be drawn through the nozzle 20, screen 15, openings 14 in thecasting 1.2 into the cylinder 24. This is possible as the cylinder 24 atthis time is raised from the casting 12, as shown inFig. 1. This suctioncontinues on the up stroke of the plunger until the plunger reaches'itsupper limit. When the plunger is lowered thecylincler 24 is immediatelyforced down until its lower end engages the washer 25 of casting 12. Thedust laden air now within the cylinder is thereby prevented from gettingout of the cylinder the way it came in. At the same time the flange 5Odraws down the valve stem 40, closing valve 42 and opening valve 43.Upon the continued downward movement of the plunger the dust laden airis forced up through the hollow plunger rod 53, out through the openings56 in said plunger rod, through valve opening 37, air outlet 38, andinto the bag 57. The dust and dirt will be retained in the bag 57 as theair passes out of the bag 57 free of its dust and dirt. Also, as theplunger is forced downwardly, a vacuum is formed within the movablecylinder 24 above the plunger, and air carrying dust and dirt as beforeis drawn up through the nozzle 20, screen 15, openings 14 in casting 12,passing upwardly in the annular passageway between the outer shell 11and movable cylinder 24 and down into the cylinder on top of the plunger52. The valve 42 at this time being closed, no dust can pass through thevalve opening 32. But when the plunger is started 011 its up stroke asabove considered the cylinder 24 rises, lifting the valve stem 40 andopening valve 42 and closing valve 43. As the plunger is continued onits up stroke the dust laden air will be forced from the upper part'ofthe cylinder 24, through valve opening 32, air outlet 33' into the bag57 where the dust will be removed from the air as the air passes throughsaid bag. It is therefore seen that this vacuum cleaner is compound ordouble acting, being capable of drawing in dust laden air and forcing itout through the dustbag on both the up and down strokes of the plunger.The bag can be removed readily and the dust removed. If comparativelylarge particles of dirt or other pieces be drawn up through the nozzle'20 they will be retained in the bowl-shaped member 16 by the'screen 15.

This bowlshaped member'can be readily removed by loosening the screw 17and the dirt removed.

This vacuum cleaner can be operated by anyone by simply grasping thehandle 61 and moving the plunger up and down and steadying the cleanerby holding the other handle 60. The plunger could be actuated in otherways to move the cylinder 24 up and down and to create vacuum on bothsides of the plunger. There may also be many modifications in theprecise arran ement herein shown. and described, an I aim in my claimsto cover all such modifications which do not involve a departure fromthe spirit and scope of my invention. What I claim as new is: V 7 1. Invacuum-producing apparatus, the combination of a shell, a cylindermovable in said shell, a member connected to said cylinder, a pluralityof valves mounted on said member, and a plunger adapted'to be actuatedin said cylinder for producing a vacuum in said cylinder.

2. In vacuum-producing apparatus, the combination of a shell, a cylindermovable in said shell, a member movable with said cylinder, a valvemounted on said member, and a plunger adapted to be actuated in saidcylinder for producing a vacuum in said cylinder, said cylinder beingmovable with said plunger at definite stages.

3. In vacuum-producing apparatus, the combination of an outer shell, acylinder movable in said shell with an air-passageway between saidcylinder and shell, a member reciprocated by said cylinder, a valvemounted on said member, and a plunger adapted to be actuated in saidcylinder for producing a vacuum in said cylinder, said cylinder beingmovable with said plunger at a definite stage and also movablerelatively to said plunger.

4. In vacuum-producing apparatus, the combination of a shell, a cylindermovable in said shell, a stem movable with said cylinder, spring-pressedvalves mounted on said stem, and a plunger slidably mounted in saidcylinder to produce a vacuum in said cylinder.

5. In vacuum-producing apparatus, the combination of a cylinder movablein a plurality of directions, a member rigidly secured td said cylinder,a valve slidably mounted on said member and adapted toibe opened whensaid cylinder is moved in one direction and closed when moved in anotherdirection, and a plunger slidably mounted in said cylinder to produce avacuum in said cylinder.

6. In vacuum-producing apparatus, the combination of a cylinder movablein a plurality of directions, a member rigidly secured to said cylinder,a plurality of springpressed valves mounted on said member and adaptedto be actuated by said cylinder, one of said valves being closed andanother opened when said cylinder is moved in one direction, and saidfirst valve opened and said second valve closed when said cylinder ismoved in another direction, and a plun- I ger slidably mounted in saidcylinder to produce a vacuum in said cylinder.

7. In vacuum-producing apparatus, the combination of a shell, a cylindermovable within'said shell, a stem rigidly secured to said cylinder,spring-pressed valves slidably mounted on said stem, and a plungeradapted to be actuated in said cylinder to produce a vacuum alternatelyon opposite sides of said plunger in said cylinder.

8. In a vacuum cleaner, the combination ofa movable cylinder, a membermoved by and with said cylinder, a valve mounted on said member, and aplunger having a movement with and a movement relatively to saidcylinder, said valve being adapted to be opened when said cylinder moveswith said plunger, and a vacuum produced when said plunger movesrelatively to said cylinder.

9. In a vacuum cleaner, the combination of a shell, a cylinder movablewithin said shell, means including a stem associated with said cylinderand having a valve controlled by the movement of said cylinder, and aplunger having a movement with and a movement relatively to saidcylinder, said valve being adapted to be closed when said cylinder moveswith said plunger, and a vacuum produced when said plunger movesrelatively to said cylinder, the movement of the cylinder with theplunger being dependent upon the friction between said cylinder andplunger.

10. In a vacuum cleaner, the combination of a shell, a cylinder movablewithin said shell, a stem movable with said cylinder, a valve mounted onsaid stem remote from said cylinder and adapted to be alternately openedand closed by the movement of said stem and cylinder, and a plungeradapted to operate in said cylinder to produce a vacuum on one side ofsaid plunger in said cylinder and to force the air on the other side ofsaid plunger out through said valve.

In testimony whereof I afiiX my signature in the presence of twowitnesses.

Milwaukee, Wis, Dec. 29, 1910.

JOSEPH F. MENNINGEN.

Witnesses H. I G. GAsE, Ros. E. S'roLL.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. G.

